Venoclysis apparatus



R. LOUTZ VENOCLYSIS APPARATUSv May 12, 1959 Filed July 29, 1955 IE I I3:3

INVENTOR. A 0 6/ Loufz ECKH FFaSL/CK, s.

BY 7 WINE/77156!" a/fbe fiim VENOCLYSIS APPARATUS Roger Loutz,Lafayette, Calif., assignor to Cutter Laboratories, Inc., a corporationof California Application July 29, 1955, Serial No. 525,338 1 Claim.(Cl. 128+272) This invention relates to venoclysis apparatus.

In the collection, storage and transfusion of blood or of solutions tobe given intravaneously, it has been usual heretofore to employ acontainer or flask made of glass. Because of the fragile nature ofglass, the handling,

transportation, storage and use of such containers pro- 2,886,035Patented May 12, 1959 It is preferred to have the flange 9 on the lowerclosure member 7 of somewhat greaterextent than the flange 8 on theupper closure member 6, to provide a container for the anti-coagulantsolution placed in the container when it is to be used for thecollection, storage and transfusion of blood.

To facilitate handling of the container, loops 12 and 13 are provided,respectively, upon the top and bottom closures 6 and 7. a

The upper closure 6 is provided with a single inletoutlet closure,generally indicated at 14, and comprising vide certain problems and makenecessary special care and attention in the handling of the containers.

In accordance with the present invention, 1 have devised a blood orsolution container which can be readily made of a flexible plastic and,therefore, obviates those problems inherent in the use of glass.Further, since the apparatus of the present invention is made of aplastic material, it is possible to make at least a portion of theapparatus of a very flexible construction, thus enabling the apparatusto be utilized readily to vary the pressure in the flask at will and tohave it sub-atmospheric, atmospheric or super-atmospheric. For example,the flask of the present invention can be partially filled with ananti-coagulant solution and packed in a partially collapsed condition sothat the container is at atmospheric pressure at all times prior to use.When it is desired to use the container for the collection of blood, forexample, expansion of the container to its normal size will result increation of a sub-atmospheric pressure within the container. Thus, thepossibility of drawing unsterilized air into the container by reason ofthe creation and existence of a subatmospheric pressure within thecontainer is reduced to only that period when the blood is beingcollected within the container. If it is subsequently necessary toutilize pressure in excess of atmospheric, this can be done readily byapplying the required hand pressure to the container.

It is in general the broad object of the present invention to provide anovel flexible container for the collection, storage and transfusion ofblood or intravenous solutions.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein thepresent preferred form of flask or container is disclosed. In thedrawing accompanying and forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a perspective view partially broken away, showing a flaskembodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is another perspective view of the flask in extended position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-section through the inlet and the outletmeans.

Referring to the present preferred embodiment shown in the drawing, thisincludes opposite circular closures 6 and 7 having, respectively,flanged ends 8 and 9, each disposed at a right angle to the respectiveend. Closures 6 and 7 are of the same diameter and the flanges 8 and 9are joined by a flexible cylindrical wall 11, which is disposed in theform of a bellows, to facilitate collapsing of the container, as inFigure 1. The complete container is of cylindrical form when fullyextended as in Figure 2. The flask is made of a flexible syntheticplastic, preferably one that is transparent.

a length of cylindrical tubing 16 having :a flange 17 at one endthereof, this being joined to the inner face of the upper end closure6'. Another cylindrical tube 18 is secured by a flange 19 in axialalignment to tube 16 but on the outer face of the end closure 6. Arubber plug 21 is inserted within the tube 18 and is retained thereinunder compression by the crimped or indented portion 22 in the tube 18.A metal sealing cap 23 is provided about the end of the tube to protectand retain the rubber plug 21. Because of the necessity of manufacturingcontainers of this type at low cost, only one inlet-outlet closure isprovided. If expense is not a factor, then a generally similar closurecan be provided on end 7 and loop 13 omitted.

In operation, when the container is to be used for the collection,storage and transfusion of blood, the anticoagulant solution is placedin the container, which is collapsed until the required amount of air isexpelled, and is then sealed; the container then appears in the form inwhich it is shown in Figure 1.

To fill the container with blood or solution, the con tainer issuspended by the loop 12 with the inlet-outlet 1 4 pointing upwardly.The inlet plug 21 is then pierced with a hollow needle connected to alength of flexible tubing having another hollow needle at the other endthereof and which is inserted into the vein of the donor following theusual procedure. This procedure includes manipulation of a valve on theline between the donor and the container to control flow through theline (see valve 15, Figure l, in Butler Patent 2,362,537). The Weight ofsolution in the container will expand the container and thus create acertain suction force which can be utilized to draw blood through theline into the container under the control of the valve. The suctionforce can be augmented by exerting a downward pull upon loop 13. Whenthe desired amount of blood has been obtained from the donor, the valveon the line is closed and the needle is removed from the donors vein.Removal of the needle from the rubber plug 21 closes the containerinasmuch as this is self-sealing.

When it is desired to give a transfusion, the container is suspended byloop 13 with the inlet-outlet closure 14 on the underside of thecontainer. The spiked end of a filter drip meter structure, such as isshown in Cutter Patent No. 2,644,586, is inserted through theinlet-outlet 14 and the usual flexible tube attached to the outlet ofthe filter is then filled with liquid until all air is ejected from theflexible tube. The usual hollow needle attached at the end of the tubeis then inserted at the desired location in the patient and thetransfusion then proceeds in the usual manner.

A positive pressure transfusion can be effected by pressing upwardlygently upon the bottom of the container, the liquid flow being at alltimes under the control of the operator inasmuch as the flow ofliquidcan be discontinued immediately upon releasing pressure upon thecontainer. If desired, the flow can be by the drip or gravity method,end closure 7 having first been punctured with a Luer needle, the needlehaving been first filled with cotton, to act as an air filter. The flowof liquid, in this instance, is under the control of the operator byreason of the usual valve attached to the flexible line leading from theinlet-outlet closure 14 to thepatient.

From the foregoing, I believe it will be apparent that I have provided arelatively simple and novel form of container for the collection,storage and transfusion of blood or solution, particularly one enablingany desired mode of operation to be achieved With a relatively simple,inexpensive container which is free of any hazard of breakage due toinherent fragility of the material of construction.

I claim:

A unitary flask for the collection, storage and transfusion of aparenteral fluid, said flask consisting of a pair of substantially flat,rigid discs disposed in a parallel spaced relation, a flexible tubularsidewall collapsibly joining said discs to provide a unitaryflask, aninlet-outlet :closure provided centrally on one of said discs to permitof the admission and withdrawal of a parenteral fluid, said closureincluding a tube mounted on a disc with its r 4 longitudinal axis normalto the disc and having a first portion and a second portion, a needlepierceable plug mounted in the first portion, the second portion beingin communication With the interior of the flask and acting as a guidefor a needle piercing the plug, and suspension support means attached toeach disc for supporting the flask from either end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,718,369 Lillford June 25, 1929 2,597,715 Erickson May 20, 19522,685,316 Krasno Aug. 3, 1954 2,702,034 Walter Feb. 15, 1955 2,704,544Ryan Mar. 22, 1955 2,784,882 Du Bois Mar. 12, 1957 2,838,046 Butler June10, 1958

